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The UN Commission on Sustainable Development

The UNCSD

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was established by the UN General Assembly in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit.

The Commission is responsible for reviewing progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It is also guided by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) to follow up implementation at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Meetings and Cycles

The CSD meets annually in New York, in two-year cycles, with each cycle focusing on clusters of specific thematic and cross-sectoral issues. Each two-year cycles include Review and Policy Years. The Review Year will evaluate progress made in implementing sustainable development goals and identifying obstacles and constraints, while the Policy Year will decide on measures to speed up implementation and mobilize action to overcome these obstacles and constraints.

Thematic Clusters of Each Cycle

In each cycle, the thematic clusters of issues will be addressed within the framework of Sustainable Development. It wants to treat all issues integrating it's economic, social and ecological dimension. While each cycle focusses on a specific set of issues, this should not block progress and commitment on issues that are tackled in future cycles. The different cycles are here:

Cycle

Thematic Cluster

2004-2005: CSD 12 / CSD 13

  • Water
  • Sanitation
  • Human Settlements

2006-2007: CSD 14 / CSD 15

  • Energy for Sustainable Development
  • Industrial Development
  • Air Pollution / Atmosphere
  • Climate Change

2008-2009: CSD 16 / CSD 17

  • Agriculture
  • Rural development
  • Land
  • Drought
  • Desertification
  • Africa

2010-2011: CSD 18 / CSD 19

  • Transport
  • Chemicals
  • Waste Management (Hazardous and Solid Waste)
  • Mining
  • 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production

Cross-cutting Issues

Finally, a list of cross-cutting issues are defined to be taken into account at each cycle. The cross-cutting Issues are:

  • Poverty eradication,
  • Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production,
  • Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development,
  • Sustainable development in a globalizing world,
  • Health and sustainable development,
  • Sustainable development of SIDS,
  • Sustainable development for Africa,
  • Other regional initiatives,
  • Means of implementation,
  • Institutional framework for sustainable development,
  • Gender equality,
  • and Education.

Matthew Carroll (02/03/2006 6:02 pm)

Ben Vanpeperstraete (19/04/2011 4:12 pm)